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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
She's MUSC's
version of City of Charleston's Office
of Cultural Affairs director Ellen
Dressler Moryl, famed Kennedy White
House social secretary Letitia Baldridge
and Hollywood events planner Cheryl
Cecchetto. Whatever the occasion, Susan
Master, director of special events,
brings her own brand of organization,
resourcefulness and charm to every event
she's involved in.
 Special events
director Susan Master has been at MUSC
since 1996.
In Colcock Hall's
lobby, guests arriving at a private
honorary degree award event were greeted
and presented with name tags before
enjoying a lunch reception. The area was
adorned with vases of fresh flowers and
the strains of live music from a string
quartet. These details may have been
taken for granted by the 70 guests and
honoree who attended the reception last
March, but it was a visible reminder of
Master's concept and touch.
With a variety of
events and activities, Master is a
pre-planner and pays close attention to
specifics whether she's coordinating
details for an intimate gathering of a
select few or event planning for the
masses.
Since her arrival
to MUSC in 1996, Master has emerged as
the campus' authority on event planning
and organization.
She's left her
handiwork in dozens of activities from
receptions, retirements, dedications and
celebrations for students, faculty,
alumni and community members. Master
also plans and supports events under the
Development Office and Office of the
President with activities such as the
board of trustees meetings, Presidential
Scholars receptions, MUSC commencements
and other gatherings.
In each of her
jobs, she's exhibited a depth of
knowledge and experience that she's
gained in her 28 years as an events
organizer and planner. She's a creative
multi-tasker and negotiator who's
flexible, level-headed and passionate
about her work.
Leah Greenberg,
wife of MUSC President Ray Greenberg,
M.D., Ph.D., is an Women's Club member
and considers Master a good friend.
"Susan is so good at what she does.
She's organized, friendly, diplomatic,
professional and fun to be around. She
has an ability to see things beyond
everyone's scope and can adjust to make
everything go seamless. She possesses skills
and talent that go beyond the norm."
A Pennsylvania
native, Master got her professional
start in hospitality and event planning
at Penn State University's Nittany Lion
Inn. There, she helped plan university
events such as receptions, dinners and
private parties. She credits Fran Levin,
director of sales of the Penn State
University Conference Inn, for guiding
her career and mentorship. During a
positive employee review, Levin told
Master to be open in receiving critical
feedback from others.
In 1995, she and
husband, Michael, craved a change in
their lives and searched for a place to
relocate on the East Coast. After much
debate and research, they moved to
Charleston. The pair was attracted to
the Lowcountry's beaches as well as the
arts and culture scene. Wanting to
return to work in a university setting,
she worked from 1996 to 1997 in the
Institute of Psychiatry and from 1997 to
1999 in the College of Graduate Studies.
When she applied to work as a special
events assistant working with the Office
of the President's Pam DeFratus, she
returned to something she loved.
"I was so
grateful to many wonderful friends and
colleagues, many who were women, who
believed in me and encouraged me to
apply for jobs and make choices that
helped me in my career. I feel so
fortunate to be doing what I do every
day," she said.
Master feels her
hard work reaches beyond organizing an
event and setting up for a meal. She
believes her involvement is part of a
larger creative process. Master feels
her events bring people and ideas
together, generate important discussions
and promote the work and preparation of
future doctors, nurses, researchers and
health professionals. "It's about people
coming together and forming valuable,
sustainable relationships," she said.
Despite an
erratic schedule, long hours of
pre-planning and the challenge of
dealing with the unexpected, Master
finds time to be a year-round mentor to
hospitality and tourism students from
the College of Charleston. As a
one-person operation working out of a
small office on the edge of the MUSC
campus, she's demonstrated her
resourcefulness by working with interns
to teach them her craft and hone their
skills through real-world experiences.
"Working with
interns is one of the best rewards of my
job. They learn the values of building
good organizational skills, networking
and time management. Their experiences
provide valuable feedback to our work.
It's their contributions that support
the greater good of the university," she
said.
Aside from
supporting the arts and other
volunteering, Master counts her time
spent with the MUSC Women's Club as an
important balance in her life. The club
continues to be an active group at MUSC
and in the community. Master, who has
been a member since 2000, values the
service work, activities and fellowship
offered through the organization. From
2004 to 2005, she served as the club's
president and worked to restructure it
by expanding membership to include
female faculty, professional and
administrative staff.
"This group has
been so supportive to me both personally
and professionally. As president, I
never worked harder in my life, but
loved every second of it."
Outside of the
office and away from phones, Master
enjoys her down time by reading,
watching movies, riding her bike around
Charleston's streets and walking her
dogs around Colonial Lake. She's mom to
her basset hounds, Gaylord and Mr.
Ripley, and an active member of the
Carolina Basset Hound Rescue League.
Asked if she'd
ever consider working for herself, she
hesitates and smiles. She genuinely
loves her work and being within an
office environment versus working
independently or with hotel management.
"I love the
balance that MUSC provides," she said.
"I think it suits me well and allows me
to thrive and grow in different ways
professionally that I'm happy with."
Editor's note:
In honor of National Women's History
Month, The Catalyst will feature women
who are making a difference at MUSC.
Friday,
March 8, 2013
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